APGA Governorship Candidate in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti escaped unhurt as PDP Thugs attacked his convoy today at Ntigha Junction, for the 2nd time in two weeks.

Peoples Democratic Party’s thugs launched an attack on the campaign convoy of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, Dr. Alex Otti, today at Ntigha Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway,

The armed attack against the former Diamond Bank boss and front line governorship candidate in the upcoming general elections in the state was the second in less than two weeks.

The campaign team was attacked on March 9, while on their way to Oboro in Ukwuano Local Government Area of the state for town hall meetings with the people of the area.

Eyewitnesses account said that the attack happened while Otti’s motorcade was on its way to Mbawsi in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of the state, for a town hall meeting.

The account stated that the thugs waylaid Otti’s team at Ntigha Junction on the expressway. The thugs were said to have blocked the way to Mbawsi, shooting randomly into the air, resulting in a stampede as motorists on the expressway as well as cyclists, passersby and hawkers at the junction ran to different directions for safety.

A cyclist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the incident happened around 2 p.m, saying that the thugs were later repelled by youths of the area ‘’assisted by policemen.’’

He said, ‘’the thugs came in branded buses and blocked the road to Mbawsi. ‘’We sensed that there was danger and they started shooting as soon as Otti’s convoy (motorcade) approached the junction.
‘’The resultant stampede made vehicles on the expressway, motorcyclists, hawkers and everybody to run for safety,’’ Sunday said.

He said that Otti’s motorcade parked by the roadside until the thugs took to their heels. It was gathered that signs of a possible disruption of Otti’s town hall meetings in the area was noticed in the morning when thugs attacked and vandalised a vehicle bearing a public address system, which was going round playing Otti’s campaign songs and jingles.

The campaign team later moved to Ntigha to hold a town hall meeting with the people before moving to Mbawsi, where they were received by a large crowd of supporters.
The youths of the area turned the meeting into a carnival as they danced round the community, chanting pro-Otti’s songs and displaying his campaign posters.

http://opinionriver.com/breaking-apga-governorship-candidate-in-abia-dr-alex-otti-convoy-attacked-again-by-pdp-thugs-escapes-unhurt/

PRESS RELEASE Abia Guber Pre-election poll –

Alex Otti in strong lead over Okezie Ikpeazu A recent survey conducted by NOIPolls Limited shows a significant lead in the Abia State Governorship race between the top two contenders; candidate of APGA, Dr. Alex Otti and the PDP candidate Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, with a twenty-seven percent point gap between the two.

When asked who respondents will be voting for in the coming February 2015 governorship elections in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti led the list of candidates with 45 percent, while Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had 18 percent, indicating a significant 27 percent lead by Dr. Otti. Other candidates such as Chikwe Udensi and Anyim Nyerere had 2 percent and 1 percent respectively. However, 32 percent of those polled are either undecided (19 percent) or sought confidentiality (13 percent) to their choice of candidate; and could be key in deciding a winner.

The survey results also show that Dr. Alex Otti appears to have support of voters across all age groups; particularly from first time voters of between the ages of 18 to 21 (70 percent). Furthermore, 24 percent of voters in Abia-South and 21 percent in AbiaCentral senatorial districts remain undecided as to their choice of candidate. The survey shows that almost 9 in 10 eligible voters are registered to vote in the February elections, with about 8 in 10 (86 percent) being absolutely certain that they will vote.

Similarly, the working class of between 30 to 60 years, as well as Senior Citizens of age 61+, are absolutely certain they will vote. NOIPolls Limited, No.1 for credible country-specific polling services in West Africa, in technical partnership with the Gallup Organisation (USA), conducts periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com


noi-polls.com/docs/05031140abiagovernorshipelectionspoll-pressrelease.pdf

Ndeewo nu Ndi Abia. I officially flagged off my Gubernatorial campaign to all the Local Government Areas of the state today.
It started from Isiala Ngwa North and South where thousands of people trooped in to show support for me, my party APGA and candidates contesting for other positions under the same Platform.

Some of the candidates present at the rally were Chief Ahamdi Nweke, Abia Central Senatorial Candidate, Hon. Chinenye Ike, Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal House of Reps Candidate, Levi Atulegwu Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency.

The road show by women and youth was a sight to behold. In all I must say a big thank you to the good people of Isiala Ngwa North and South for their immeasurable support and solidarity towards my ambition to take Abia State to an
enviable height.

After the initial anxiety created by the non-inclusion of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the list for the 2015 governorship election earlier released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the electoral body on Tuesday pasted another list containing the name of Dr Alex Otti as the APGA candidate.

The list which was pasted at INEC state office in Umuahia on Tuesday evening was authenticated by the legal office of the electoral body in Abuja, showing that Otti would run with Mrs. Uche Eme-Uche as his running mate, thereby making APGA the only party with a woman as deputy governorship candidate in the state.

Otti and Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba were contending for the rightful candidate of APGA following the parallel primary elections that produced each of them based on factional affiliations.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/inec-confirms-otti-as-apga-guber-candidate-for-abia/198525/

Abia First, the campaign organization of Dr. Alex Otti, governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, wishes to draw the attention of the Federal Government, law enforcement agencies and Nigerians to the lawlessness being perpetrated by the Theodore Ahamefule (T.A.) Orji-led government of Abia State.

We had earlier alerted on the wanton destruction of our billboards. It is disheartening to note that this barbaric act has continued in the last couple of days, this time around being supervised by agents of the state government. We condemn this act in the strongest terms.

As if that was not enough, the government has resorted to disrupting meetings and events of supporters of Dr. Alex Otti with security agents and hired thugs. For instance, on the ..... a meeting of party members of APGA at Umuru Umehim Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, was disrupted by hired thugs under the supervision of a government appointee. Though the government agent apologised when angry youths rose up against him, the message was quite clear.

Again, on ....... when a group of youths gathered for a meeting in Ovorji, another set of hoodlums attacked them, alleging that government had instructed them not to allow APGA meetings hold in a supposed PDP territory.

Still, on Sunday January 4, an annual football competition hosted by Honourable Damian Ozurumba in Mbutu Ngwa, was not allowed to hold. Security agents who were dispatched from the Government House Umuahia, physically stopped the competition from taking off, alleging that Dr. Alex Otti was invited as a Guest of Honour and therefore it was going to be a rally in disguise. They further questioned why the PDP governorship candidate was not invited. All appeals and assurances that Dr. Otti was not going to attend, fell on deaf ears.

Abia First is worried about these signals coming from the outgoing government of Abia State as they portend danger to our democracy.
Given the background of our governorship candidate and his insistence on law and order, we have and will continue to conduct ourselves with decorum. However, we need to state clearly that there is a limit to the provocation coming from people who we expect should be engaging the electorate on their programs, if any, rather than resorting to savagery.

We will like to use this medium to call on the Federal Government and the security agencies to call the State Government to order. This becomes very important as we may not continue to fold our arms and watch in the face of the brazen intimidation from the government of T.A. Orji. #AlexOtti2015

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has said the years of bad governance in Abia State will soon be a thing of the past.

Otti vowed to instill good governance in the state if elected governor come February 2015.

He made the declaration at a reception organised in his honour by the Umunneochi community on Thursday at the Unity Square in Nkwo-Agu Amuda, Isuochi where a mammoth crowd gathered to receive him.

The APGA gubernatorial candidate in the state decried the state of roads and other infrastructural facilities across Abia, promising that his government will construct motorable roads in Isuochi and other parts of the state if elected, adding that road construction is part of his master plan for a comprehensive development of Abia State.

The master plan, he stressed, will also focus on human capital development to fully tap the brain of a large pool of intelligent and hardworking people that need just the basic necessities of life to bring out their best and succeed.

“What Abians need is good schools, water, good roads, employment opportunities, good and friendly environment for their businesses to thrive. All these we will give you if you vote for APGA in all the elections in the state which include the governorship, House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate.

Otti, however, stated that the presidential election would be the only exception, stating the votes should go to President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

Otti advised the people of Isuochi not to be deceived by the gimmicks of the incumbent governor to anoint a successor who will not only be a puppet that will do the master’s bid, but also help in taking Abia State 20 years backwards.

“I don’t have any problems with a candidate being anointed but where the anointing is coming from a person rather than the people is what I have problems with. Especially considering the woeful performance in the past seven and half years by the incumbent governor and as such, lacks every moral right to anoint a successor.

“Even the so called anointed candidate failed in the only assignment that was given to him to keep Aba, our commercial nerve centre clean as the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) deputy chairman. How do you think he will be able to take Abia as a whole to the next level?, Otti queried.

The APGA flag bearer stated that the only condition under which evil will triumph over good is for good men to keep quiet, saying that Abia will be a failed state if we allow ‘them’ for the next four years.

He urged the people to endeavor to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) at their local government headquarters or register afresh for those yet to do so since the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) window is still open, “because that is the tool they can use to make a case for change that you desire, that’s the only way you can attract development to your doorsteps.”

Prior to the reception, Otti had paid a courtesy call on the Umunneochi traditional rulers led by, Prof. Sunday Igweru Nwankwo (Ezedigbo 1 of Umuakwu), where he pledged to improve on their welfare and that of their people.

He used the opportunity to introduce other APGA aspirants such as Chief David Ogba Onuoha (Bourdex) for Senate, Abia North, Dr. Ejike Oji for Umunneochi/Isuikwuato constituency, Federal House of Representatives and Prince Ikedi Ezekwsiri for Umunneochi Constituency in the State House of Assembly.

The APGA candidates pledged to attract meaningful projects to their constituencies which will benefit the people now and in the future.

In their earlier remarks, the traditional rulers described as humiliating the meager salary of between N7,000 and 16,000 some of them are placed on by the current government in the state compared to a N120,000 their colleagues in other South-east states are receive.

They lambasted the incumbent governor of the state for not keeping to any of the promises he made to their people when he was campaigning for re-election in 2011 and pledged to give Otti and the other APGA candidates all the necessary support they need to succeed.

Otti concluded his last official outing of 2014 with visits to some prominent citizens of Abia North senatorial zone including, Chief Johnson Chukwu, the Ugwueke of Bende and the former Nigerian Chief of General Staff, Ebitu Ukiwe.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/abia-guber-race-otti-pledges-good-governance/198192/

The clamour for women to get top political positions in the country received a boost in Abia State as the governorship standard-bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, has picked a lady, Dr. Eme Uche Eme, as his running mate.

Eme, a renowned teacher from Ohafia in Abia north, studied political science at the University of Nigeria Nsuka (UNN).

This happened as Otti bagged man of the year award and overwhelmingly received at different rallies and consultation with eminent personalities in the area who vowed to deliver their votes to the APGA guber candidate, saying that he represents in its entirety, the positive change the people of the state are currently gunning for.

Unveiling his deputy during a courtesy call by eminent personalities in Ohafia, Otti averred that the choice of Eme was purely based on her competence and not necessarily about her loyalty to him, as according to him, ‘a good leader will always get loyalty from the followers’.

“She is competent and that is the main consideration in arriving at her choice. If you are a good leader, people will be loyal to you”, Otti stressed.

Otti lamented that the best of Abia has been scared away from politics and governance since 1999 thereby making way for incompetent hands who tries to always replicate themselves in what could be described as a vicious circle.

“Abia is a state blessed with so much human resources and yet remains backward. This is because the best of Abia has never come to politics since 1999. Those that got through replicate themselves and the vicious circle continues.

“The time has come for a strong force to break the circle and move Abia forward”, he thundered.

In her acceptance speech, Eme says a revolution is currently going on in Abia State of which the intelligential must not sit on the fence but must pioneer it, adding that “the revolution train is on and moving fast in Abia State”

In his speech at the occasion, former Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, stamped a seal of endorsement on Otti quest for the governorship seat of the state, saying that he and the people of Ohafia are in total support of Otti as governor.

“I and my people are in total support of Otti as Abia State governor come February 2015 and I am ready to defend him as his team anytime, anywhere,” Kalu stressed.

Other Ohafia dignitaries present at the occasion include Uma Eleazu (the chief host), Dr. K.U. Kalu, former chairman of Union Bank, Chief Ole Ikpa, Awa Kalu (SAN) and a host of others.

Prior to the unveiling of his running mate, Otti had made a brief stop at the home of eminent man of God and preacher of the gospel, Rev Uma Okpai where he received divine endorsement in a close-door parley.

At ITEM, Otti was received by the warm arms of thousands of people who gathered to have a glimpse of the man determined to make Abia work with unrepentant passion.

He was handed an award as the Best Personality of the Year 2014 in Industrial Development of Nigeria by the ITEM Development Association (IDA) recognition of his immense contribution towards industrial revolution in the country.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/abia-guber-race-otti-picks-woman-as-running-mate/198128/

Alex Otti Campaign Organization has alerted the pub­lic to the destruction of billboards belonging to the Abia governor­ship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 election, Dr. Alex Otti.

Speaking with news­men after a tour of the city to access the level of destruction of the billboards, the Director- General of Alex Otti Campaign Organization (AOCO), Ahamdi Nweke, said the attack was done by those who were afraid of the general acceptance of Otti by the people and the change he was going to bring to Abia in 2015.

According to him, “The Alex Otti Campaign Organization had put up billboards everywhere in town, but as you can see from the areas you have visited, the opposition has been bringing them down.

“They are doing this because the state wants change, because the Aba people have in recent times through their ac­tions made it clear that they want change and they believe they can stop that change by bring down the billboards of the man that is going to bring about that change.”

Nweke said what they had expected those who pulled the billboards down to do was to go all out and campaign as Otti was do­ing, but that engaging in acts of barbarism and van­dalism was unacceptable.

“Unfortunately, it is very shameful that people had resorted to campaign of vandalism, campaign of thurgery so early in the process of the campaign period, to destroy our bill­boards all over the place.

“You can see quite clearly, tens of millions of naira billboards that had been put up, that had been destroyed by people who ought to be putting up their own and campaign as we are doing.”

He said going by the fact that Peoples’ Demo­cratic Party (PDP) bill­boards in the city were not touched, it would not be difficult to discern the quarters from where the destruction came from.

“We are not going to attack PDP because there is no PDP in the state. You will remember that before the state congresses, the state PDP was dissolved, the local government ex­ecutives were dissolved, the ward level was dis­solved, so there is no PDP as such in the state and that is why APGA had taken the centre stage and everyone in the state is supporting APGA.”

Nweke urged the sup­porters of APGA all over the state, to keep calm and not to retaliate, add­ing that their governorship candidate, Otti, as a de­cent man would not like to be involved in politics of thurgery and violence.

Good Evening Ndi Abia

It has been brought to my notice that some unscrupulous elements have taken up the job of damaging my billboards posters across the state.

These nefarious acts, I understand, have been consistently carried out by some paid agents who would rather mortgage their future for a 'plate of pottage'

Some of the damaged billboard posters are located at Brass junction and Factory road, Aba.

They have succeeded in destroying some of my billboards posters but they will never succeed in destroying my aspiration and zeal to make Abia State better

I have registered my complain with the security agencies and I urge my supporters to do same once the notice any suspicious acts around my billboards

I hereby advise my opponents to #ThinkAbiaFirst and practice politics based on issues rather than bitterness. #AlexOtti2015

With leading political parties concluding their primaries at the state and federal levels, the race for 2015 is virtually underway. As candidates for various positions file out, the clamour for change, seems to be the underlin­ing message among those seeking to take over from the existing order.

While some chorus change because it is fast assuming the status of cliché at political seasons, others push for it on ground that the existing order may have either outlived its usefulness or is currently self-serving.

The old order, expectedly, has not been relenting. Essentially given to the established arrangement of entitlement politics that guar­antees patronage from the system, it gradu­ally develops a lechery tendency that sees it permanently sucked to power, not for reasons of service but for personal enrichment. In a bid to sustain the parasitic attachment to the public till, those in this class, easily resort to treating the neglected and traumatized citizenry with the mantra of consolidation and continuity. In going about the odious theatrical, there is always the tendency to flaunt some hastily contrived and inflated projects to befuddle the people. At the end of the day, however, the state is left poorer in terms of ideas and infrastructural development.

This, in a way, is the story of Abia. Created 23 years ago, the state has not really moved at a pace that many had expected, considering its human capital and material resource endow­ments. Within this time, the last 16 years adequately falls into a period that it can be said to be at its lowest turn.

Thus, as 2015 politics sets in, two tenden­cies are on display in the state. On one hand, is Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governorship candi­date of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who obviously represents the old order. On the other hand is Dr. Alex Otti, the flag bearer of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who projects the new face of Abia.

The two candidates come on board with their individual profiles. Both are intellectuals that had recorded varying marks in their fields. Ikpeazu had been a teacher and lately the face behind Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA). As a lecturer, he may have performed creditably. But as ASEPA boss, given the poor sanitary conditions of major towns in the state, especially Aba, the state’s economic nerve centre, his performance rating is adjudged below average.

Ikpeazu runs on the roadmap of consoli­dating on the achievements of the departing administration of Governor Theodore Orji. At each turn in his outing, he has spoken on continuing with the policy initiatives of the ad­ministration. On the face value, there is noth­ing wrong with continuity as a phenomenon. It depends on what legacies to be continued. But one thing Ikpeazu has not succeeded in telling Abians is what next he has to offer aside, perhaps, continuing with Orji’s projects that are basically concentrated on Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.

His blue print for developing other parts of the state, is hardly convincing. Besides, he is yet to come out with an economic agenda that can wean the state of the paltry monthly federal allocation from Abuja. The other time for instance, he was reported to have blamed the poor revenue and infrastructural base of the state on oil companies operating in it having their headquarters elsewhere.

What critical stakeholders gleaned from that disclosure was that he was lacking in clear agenda at repositioning the state, except, de­pending on the monthly Abuja allocation and incidental taxes on oil companies in the state, if he ever gets elected.

It may be on account of this apparent lack of definite agenda for Abia that Ikpeazu has been running his governorship campaign on the sentiment of power shift to Abia South Senatorial district – an area that comprises a large chunk of the Ukwa-Ngwa sub-clans of the state. However, in lashing onto this frenzy, he deliberately downplays existence of the Ngwa in the Central Senatorial district of the state, which also lay genuine claim to the of­fice. He also forgets that Ukwa a major part of the said Abia South is greatly marginalized by the fact that his brother of neighboring villages hold the party’s Senatorial ticket while he is the gubernatorial candidate of the same party.

With the campaigns gradually setting in however, perceptive observers are ex-raying the contents of each candidate’s agenda. The Abia South Senatorial district issue is for instance, paling to insignificance, given that the two candidates are from Ngwa. Besides, allowing Ikpeazu to run away with the devious scheme, would amount to shortchanging the other constituting units of the Zone, given that he hails from Obingwa, the same local govern­ment area with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who has been handed a return ticket to the upper lawmaking house by PDP.

Also, his consolidation theory is being torn to shreds by the highly enlightened Abia citizenry on ground that sustaining the current regime of inaction which he represents for another four years, would amount to instituting a legacy of stagnancy in the state.

This is not the case with Otti. In academics, where he comes across as a First Class econo­mist, his credentials are quite intimidating. In his last calling as Group Managing Direc­tor of Diamond Bank, he set a standard that remains a benchmark in the industry. Industry experts recall, for instance, that in his first three years in Diamond, Otti focused on steady­ing the bank, which, reeling from the effects of the global financial crises of 2008/2009, had declined in size, and lost market share to competition. By the time he was through with his turn-around engineering, the Bank had bounced into reckoning as one of the sure-footed financial institutions in Africa and beyond.

He has pledged replicating the feat in Abia, throwing to the fore, his discussions with Inter­national Finance Corporation (IFC) on agenda at re-engineering Aba. He is well known to the international financial community and would leverage on those connections for the state.

But besides the lofty economic blue print that will readily sell him to the average busi ­ness conscious and politically sophisticated indigenes and residents of the state, the fall-out of the recent PDP primaries which left some frontline aspirants bruised, would work in his favour. These aspirants and their supporters, who felt chiseled out of PDP politics, are join­ing forces with him in rescuing the state.

Otti, though excited by the daily influx of supporters to his aspiration, however maintains that the task of fixing the state, requires sacri ­fice. Service to Abia, according to him, is the force driving his aspiration and not an exercise in personal enrichment. He has thus, asked those having the assumption that politicians go to Government House to enrich their pockets to have a rethink, stressing that his is diferent because he has strategies that would take the state to another level.

The APGA candidate, by this declaration, seems to have hit at the very heart of the state’ selectorate, who now see him as the man to beat. They only advise that he puts on ground, strategies that would protect his votes against rigging at the February 28, 2015 governorship poll.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=97013

Days of infrastructure decay and utter neglect of Aba, Abia State commercial nerve centre will soon be over. This was the pledge of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the State, Dr. Alex Otti, as he stormed the Ariaria International Market, Aba, on Monday, December 22.  

He also pledged provision of  conducive environment for businesses and abolition of multiple taxation which is currently the order of the day.

Otti, who was in Aba in continuation of his sensitization and mobilisation tour in various parts of the state, bemoaned the filthy state of the once glowing and vibrant commercial APGA Guber candidate, Otti, storms Aba, pledges good governancecity, vowing to transform it in record time if elected.
 
This comes on the heels of a recent endorsement on him by a coalition of stakeholders of the Market and Ward 9 Aba North Local Government Area, at his Umuru, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government country home.

The Ariaria Market group, which paid solidarity visit to Otti, stressed that its decision to back him was based on conviction that he would provide good leadership and address development challenges in Abia if elected.

Similar expression of enthusiasm and support came the way of the APGA candidate, during his Ariaria Market tour.

In the course of the exercise, Otti, former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank,   interacted with the traders who threw their weight behind his aspiration, inmforming him however on some of their concern in the February 2015 poll.
 
One of the traders, Obinna Innocent, particularly tasked the APGA flag bearer on the need to secure his votes during the contest. While expressing similar concern, another trader, Mrs. Ogechi Duru also lamented the state of the International market and Aba in general, urging Otti to keep to his promises 'when' elected assuring that she and her fellow traders totally believe in him and his Master plan for Abia State.
In his response, Otti assured the traders and other supporters of his belief in President Goodluck Jonathan's 'one man, one vote' philosophy, promising that their votes will be protected.
He however reminded them that they also have a major role to play in ensuring his success at the poll.  In this regard, he advised those yet to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to do so at their various Local Government Headquarters, adding that it is the main tool they need to change Abia for better.
The highlight of the visit was Otti’s march through Aba Shopping Center Road with his campaign team where he addressed a crowd of supporters.

The Ariaria visit was not the first time the APGA hopeful had stressed his commitment at transforming Aba. It would be recalled that, he had during his official declaration for governorship, pledged that he would create Ministry of Aba Affairs and develop the city to a level that it would comfortably be referred to as the “Japan of Africa”.

Good morning Ndi Abia. Hope you all had a nice weekend. I will be visiting Ariaria and other markets in Aba this morning. I urge you to come out en masse for the event.

If ABIA must be good,Aba,the commercial nerve centre of the state must be clean enough to attract local and foreign investors. I urge you to join me as I unveil the ABA Masterplan which will come into fruition once I'm elected in February, 2015.

Think Abia First, think Dr. Alex Otti. Have a nice day and God bless you all #AlexOtti2015 #ThinkAbiaFirst

Contrary to reports that a High Court sitting in Abia State had asked the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, not to so parade himself, Umeh, said Thursday in Aba that the position remained intact on the strength of two Court of Appeal judgments in his favour.

Addressing a crowd of party supporters at the Recreation Club, Aba, during the presentation of Dr. Alex Otti as the standard bearer of APGA in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Abia State, Umeh said two appeal courts, one sitting in Enugu and the other sitting in Abuja had earlier in their separate judgments written and declared that his tenure expires next year.

He said: ‘’There are people who are saying that I am no longer the national chairman of APGA and that my tenure had expired. I want to tell you that the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu and Abuja had in their separate judgments written and ruled that my tenure expires next year.’’

While describing those behind the report as liars and mischief makers, the APGA national chairman however urged party supporters not to entertain any fear because APGA according to him has no problems.

Commenting on the APGA governorship candidate in Abia, Umeh described Otti as the best candidate for the state because he possesses a solid academic credentials laced with experience in managing people and resources and a wide network of linkages he could leverage on to transform the state.

According to him, “I have been to Ngwa road, I have been to Ohanko road, I have been to Ariaria and Faulks road, I have also been to Port Harcourt road and Ogbor Hill areas of Aba and I saw that all the roads are in a deplorable state. Let me assure you that an APGA government under Otti will fix all the roads for you,’’ he the jubilant crowd.

Also speaking, the Governor of Anambra State and Chairman, Board of Trusties of APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, had told party supporters that he had known Otti for a period spanning over 32 years even as he disclosed that during this period the first class economist had remained a prudent manager and good leader.

He urged Abians to vote in Otti in the forthcoming general election because he has got the capacity to transform the state starting from Aba as the Dubai of Africa. adding that his administration would usher in the progress needed to secure their future and the future of their children because the APGA candidate will deliver on his campaign promises.

In his acceptance speech after receiving the flag of APGA from the national leadership of the party, Otti said the event symbolises a good change that has come to Abia because the people of Abia had suffered to long because of lack of purposeful leadership.

‘’This is a great day for Abia State because change has come to Abia. Change is here. We have endured several years of bad governance and this is the time for good governance. And you cannot give what you do not have. If you do not have a future or ideas you cannot give them. But because I have them I will give them to you.

‘’Let me tell you my brothers that we don’t have any problem with anointed candidates but the anointing must be by God. If it is anointed by man say no. So we must reject anointed by man because mine is a certified inspiration. An inspiration to come and salvage Abia State, an inspiration to come and fix the roads in Abia State, an inspiration to come and fix the healthcare system in Abia State, an inspiration to fix agriculture and most importantly an inspiration to salvage my state,’’ Otti said.

Continuing, the APGA candidate expressed his understanding of the plight of Abians as it relates to presence of bad roads everywhere and however pledged to create the Ministry of Aba Affairs and also declare a state of emergency in the city.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship flagbearer in the 2015 general election in Abia state, Dr Alex Otti, has been presented with the Certificate of Return for emerging tops at the gubernatorial primaries held yesterday in Umuahia.

Presenting the certificate of return to the APGA governorship candidate in a brief ceremony, chairman of the APGA Electoral Committee, Chief Paul Odenigbo, said that after the governorship primaries conducted yesterday by his team and Dr Otti emerged winner, the concluding part of their assignment is to issue a Certificate of Return to the winner of the primary election.

‘’Yesterday we conducted the governorship primaries and by the special grace of God you were declared the flag bearer and the implication is that from now on you are the governorship candidate of APGA in Abia state’’

‘’Part of the documentation process of our group is usually the issuing of Certificate of Return to anyone who scaled through the process and we are here to present to you APGA Certificate of Return and saying you are now to fly the flag of our great party in next year’s general elections. Congratulations!,’’ Odenigbo said.

Responding, Dr Otti, expressed his appreciation for the Certificate of Return issued him and however assured the party officials that the party’s flag will be flown very well by him at the general elections next year adding ‘’the election will be won not just by me as the gubernatorial candidate but also other APGA candidates ‘’

Former Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr Alex Otti yesterday in Umuahia emerged the gubernatorial candidate for the February 2015 general election in Abia state.
At the gubernatorial primaries of the party held at the Lakewood Hotel along Aba Road Umuahia, the state capital, Otti polled 485 votes out of a total of 503 votes cast to defeat his rival Mr Chikwendu Udensi who scored 8 votes.

Out of a total of 511 delegates accredited for the primaries conducted in a free and fair atmosphere 503 voted while 10 votes were voided
Addressing party supporters shortly after he was declared winner by the chairman of the APGA electoral committee, Otti expressed his appreciation delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner during the conduct of the primaries.
He said: ‘’ I must thank God for a very peaceful election and the delegates for their support. Let me also that those who didn’t vote for me because I know that as time goes on they will come to understand what we have come to do in APGA. All in All I am very happy with the result of the primaries’’, an elated Otti said

Fielding questions from journalists, the First Class Economists said that the deplorable state of Abia is the main reason why he came out in the first instance but that it is not too late to salvage the situation adding that it could have been worse if ‘’people like us did not take the bold step we took because I believe that I have the capacity, the skills and the network as well as the experience and training to turn the situation in Abia around’’
‘’In terms of potentials, I believe that Abia state is blessed because we have the resources both material and human, creative minds and entrepreneurs. What is required is a little support from government by way of creating the enabling environment and that is exactly what I have come to do for my state’’. He said

The APGA governorship candidate reiterated his commitment to embark on massive infrastructural turn around across the state to aid commerce and industry even as he said that healthcare and educational systems in the state will be turned around if he becomes governor for the betterment of the citizenry.
He emphasised that his administration will ensure that teachers in the state receive proper training to enable them impact qualitative knowledge in school children at various levels in the state because according to him if the state is populated with high rate of uneducated class then the state has a problem in the future.

Otti, also pledged to create job opportunities for the teeming youth in the state in other to get them to be gainfully employed to dissuade them from social vices in the state. He noted that a lot of Abians are farmers operating at subsistence level but however pledged to enhance their capacity to produce in commercial quantities.
While expressing his determination to run and win the governorship election in the state, the APGA candidate also reminded Abians that the time for their liberation is now and however, urged them not to allow it to be thwarted.